Few clubs have flattered to deceive like Liverpool over the past 25 years, especially when it comes to the Premier League.
It is true to say that the Anfield club have flirted with a title challenge on a couple of occasions during that period. In 2014 they did far more than flirt with the title, they took the trophy out on a date, proposed to it and even booked the wedding...only to get jilted at the alter.
There has been a change at the club over the last three years though and that is down to the arrival of Jurgen Klopp. The likeable German has breathed new life into a fan-base full of cynics and doubters and there is no doubt that the team has finally started moving in the right direction since he bounced into Anfield back in October of 2015.
Frustratingly, trophies have not followed despite remarkable runs to the Europa League and Champions League Finals, but recent transfer activity points to the fact that Klopp looks to be coming to the realisation that the time for "progress" is over. Now is the time to win.
There has been a change in tact over the last 12 months in terms of the transfer policy and that looks set to continue with the signing of Alisson from Roma iimminent.
Glaring weaknesses in the Liverpool FC squad are being plugged one-by-one and there is a growing feeling that they are ready to at least make a stronger run at the Premier League title this season.
The dominance of Man City last season was stark and few would be sane enough to tip any team to finish ahead of the Citizens next season, but with Liverpool quietly assembling the strongest squad they have had in years, there is every chance they can be the closest challengers to Pep and his brigade of stars.
Klopp has shown an unwavering stubbornness in the transfer market in recent times which has lead to frustration amongst many of the fans on social media, but the dissenting voices are becoming a faint whisper.
This time last year, a centre-back was a must. The brittle Liverpool back four needed shoring up and every name under the sun was banded about as supporters prayed for a towering presence to adore.
The former Dortmund boss wanted Virgil an Dijk and he eventually got his man, despite having to wait six months. The £75m transfer fee at the time seemed excessive but the Dutchman has transformed the much maligned Liverpool defence since his arrival and that now looks like money well spent. Consider that hole well and truly plugged.
The summer of 2017 was also dominated by the pursuit of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig. The Bundesliga side simply did not want to sell, but that wasn't enough to put off Klopp and deal was made for the player to come to Anfield this summer. The arrival of Fabinho from Monaco out of the blue further strengthened a midfield which at times looked wafer thin in terms of squad depth last season.
Then we come to Alisson...
To his credit, Loris Karius improved last term after a shaky start to life at Anfield but his display in the Champions League Final was difficult to watch as he produced two of the most glaring mistakes you will witness at the highest level of the sport. Klopp supported his man in public as he should have done but behind the scenes he knew that the former Mainz man needed taking out of the limelight.
Alisson Becker was identified as the target and in a quick and decisive move, Liverpool appear to have got the job done. Making the Brazilian the most expensive goalkeeper in history is of course a risk but the Coutinho money received from Barcelona is yet to be fully spent, and the run to the Champions League Final last term will have significantly boosted the coffers.
Now, it is impossible to predict if a player is going to be an instant success at a new club but the signs are good for Alisson. His form for Roma made him one of the most highly sought after stoppers in Europe and Liverpool have acted quickly to fix their most glaring of weaknesses.
Add in Xherdan Shaqiri who will act as a competent back up for Mane and Salah and there is a very real sense that this Liverpool squad has at least two players for every position heading into the most crucial of campaigns. Rumours continue to abound that Nabil Fekir could yet arrive at the cub despite his move last month stalling because of issues with the medical, and with that it in mind it is easy to understand why expectations amongst the fan base are rising.
The starting eleven as it stands looks as exciting a Liverpool team as we have seen since those glory days in the late 80s and those waiting in reserve to cover injury and fatigue aren't bad either. One betting firm has cut Liverpool into a price of 9/2 from 5/1 for the Premier League title race in the wake of the news that Alisson is ready to join the Klopp revolution, and it is hard to argue with their position in the market.
All that is left to do now is for the players to produce the goods on the pitch...
